Tunisia, Algeria Deploying Military Units to Protect Oil

The Algerian and Tunisian governments announced plans to boost security at oil and gas installations following the attack earlier this month on Algeria’s In Amenas facility that left dozens dead.

Tunisia has deployed military units along its desert borders with Algeria and Libya, the official TAP news agency reported today, citing unidentified security officials.

Abdelhamid Zerguine, chief executive officer of Algeria’s state-run Sonatrach, said security measures will be revised in collaboration with the security services, in an interview today with national radio. Sonatrach jointly operates An Amenas with London-based BP Plc (BP/) and Statoil ASA (STL) of Norway. The four-day siege at the plant left at least 38 foreigners dead.

Libya last week announced its own plans to reinforce security at oil and gas installations near its southern border. Measures include sending extra forces to the area and the construction of security perimeters around sites.

To contact the reporters on this story: Jihen Laghmari in Cairo at jlaghmari@bloomberg.net; Salah Slimani in Algiers at sslimani2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net